Lang
12/26/21
An alleged arsonist could face decades in prison after police say he intentionally started a fire that damaged an Iowa City Hy-Vee on Christmas night.
Iowa City Police and firefighters were called to the Waterfront Hy-Vee just after 8pm Saturday for a fire near the loading dock. Firefighters told investigators an accelerant had been put on the blaze, which caused an estimated $1,000 in damage.
Security video shows a man later identified as 56-year-old Douglas Johnson of Plum Street walking toward the loading dock just before 5:45pm, then walking away quickly northbound three minutes later.
Johnson was found just after 8:15pm near Hawkeye Liquor & Tobacco on the corner of Boyrum Street and Hollywood Boulevard. Police say he later admitted to being in the area of the fire, and that he smelled of an accelerant. Johnson was arrested and charged with 1st Degree Arson and 3rd Degree Criminal Mischief. If convicted on both charges, he faces a maximum of 27 years in prison.
Johnson is already facing a January 27th trial on assault charges after he allegedly assaulted two University of Iowa employees last month. Police say on November 29th Johnson hit two people in the back of the head unprovoked outside the Seamons Center on South Capitol Street.